Brassiere



Feb. 8, 1955 J o c sc o 2,701,362

BRASSIERE Filed May 11, 1953 Jab? 106256/0 IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent 2,701,362 BRASSIERE Jack J. Lo Cascio, Bayonne, N. J., assignor to Even-Pu! Foundations, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 11, 1953, Serial No. 353,929

2 Claims. (Cl. 242) This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in brassieres, and the principal object of the invention is to combine the customary breast supporting and contouring characteristics of a brassire with torso constricting and molding characteristics somewhat resembling those of a girdle, so that a single, brassiere type garment is capable of elfectively performing such combined functions.

The above object is achieved primarily by providing the lower region of the front section of a brassiere with a transversely extending resilient band, which constricts and molds the torso above the waist line while the breast cups of the brassiere support and contour the breasts.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the construction of the breast cups themselves, the same consisting of fabric upper portions and elastic lower portions, the latter being yieldable in upwardly and inwardly convergent directions so as to properly support the lower regions of the breasts and impart the desired uplift and forward projection thereto.

A further feature of the invention involves the provision of a pair of resilient straps which are disposed within the breast cups in an upwardly and inwardly convergent relation and coact with the elastic lower portions of the breast cups in supporting and contouring the breasts.

With the above more important objects and features in view and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts as shown in the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof and wherein Figure l is a front perspective view showing the invention in use;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the invention;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the subject shown in Figure 2 and taken from the inside of the brassiere;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view, similar to that shown in Figure 2, but illustrating a slightly modified embodiment of the invention.

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing in detail, the invention is designated generally by the reference character and consists of a brassiere including a front section 12 and a pair of side sections 14 which are connected to the front section in a manner hereinafter to be described. The side sections 14 extend around to the back of the brassiere, where they are separably connected together in any conventional manner.

The front section 12 embodies in its construction a pair of breast cups 16 which are stitched together at the vertical medial line 18 of the front section. The lower edges 20 of the breast cups are straight and coplanar, while the outer side edges of the breast cups, indicated at 22, are downwardly convergent and stitched to corresponding edge portions of the side sections 14 as shown.

A longitudinally yieldable resilient band 24 extends transversely below the breast cups and has a straight upper edge 26 which is secured by the stitching 28 to the lower edges 20 of the breast cups and has downwardly Patented Feb. 8, 1955 "ice divergent end edges 30 stitched to corresponding edge portions of the side sections 14. It is to be noted that the edges 22, 30 are co-terminal at the ends of the line of stitching 28.

The breast cups 16 consist of fabric upper portions 16a and elastic lower portions 16b, the upper portions having convex lower edges which are contiguous with and secured to concave upper edges of the lower portions by arcuate tapes 32. These tapes extend from the side edges 22 upwardly and inwardly to a point of convergence on the vertical medial line 18, slightly below the upper end of that line. In order to assure proper fit, the fabric upper portions 16a of the breast cups may be formed in the nature of complemental pieces, secured together by a substantially straight line of stitching 34 which extends transversely of the front section 12 and is intersected by the tapes 32 at two points adjacent the line 18.

A pair of upwardly convergent resilient straps 36 are disposed within the respective breast cups 16 and have their convergent ends secured to the breast cups at the vertical medial line 18, while the outer ends of the straps are secured to the respective side sections 14 at the edges 22. The outer end portions of the straps 36 underlie outer end portions of the tapes 32 as is best shown in Figure 3. It is to be noted that while the resilient band 24 is yieldable longitudinally as shown at 38, the breast cup portions 16b and the straps 36 are yieldable in oblique, upwardly and inwardly extending directions, as shown at 40 and 42 respectively. In this manner, the lower breast cup portions and the straps effectively coact to support and contour the breasts, while the band 24 constricts and molds the torso above the waist.

In Figures 1, 2 and 3 the band 24 is relatively narrow, but in a modified form of the invention shown in Figure 4 the band 24 is of a substantial width, whereby the torso constricting and molding abilities of the modified form are proportionately increased.

As will be observed, the brassiere is equipped with the customary shoulder straps 44, although it is to be understood that the teachings of the invention may also be applied to a garment of the strapless variety.

It is to be also understood that although in the foregoing there have been shown and described two preferred embodiments of the invention, various other modifications may be resorted to, within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a brassire, the combination of a front section and a pair of side sections, said front section comprising a pair of breast cups secured together along the vertical medial line of the front section, said breast cups having straight coplanar lower edges and downwardly convergent side edges secured to the respective side sections, and a longitudinally yieldable resilient band extending transversely below said breast cups and having a straight upper edge secured to the lower edges of the breast cups, said band also having upwardly convergent end edges secured to the respective side sections, said breast cups including fabric upper portions having convex lower edges, and elastic lower portions having concave upper edges contiguous with and secured to the lower edges of the upper portions, said lower portions being yieldable in directions substantially parallel to said contiguous concave and convex edges.

2. In a brassiere, the combination of a front section and a pair of side sections, said front section comprising a pair of breast cups secured together along the vertical medial line of the front section, said breast cups having straight coplanar lower edges and downwardly convergent side edges secured to the respective side sections, a longitudinally yieldable resilient band extending transversely below said breast cups and having a straight upper edge secured to the lower edges of the breast cups, said breast cups including fabric upper portions having convex lower edges and elastic lower portions having concave upper edges contiguous with and secured to the lower edges of the upper portions, and a pair of upwardly convergent resilient straps disposed within the respective breast cups and secured at their convergent ends to the breast cups at the vertical medial line of said front section, the outer ends of said straps being secured at said side edges to the respective side sections, said straps having regions which project both above and below said contiguous concave and convex edges of the respective lower and upper portions of said breast cups.

' References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,132,128 Rasch Oct. 4, 1938 2,437,655 Rosner Mar. 9, 1948 2,560,706 Spetalnik July 17, 1951 

